Guidance

you have witnessed serious wrongdoing, risk or malpractice in the workplace,

which is or could be a threat to others (customers, employees, or the general public),

and you want to raise the issue as a concern to your employer or to an independent body.

OUR ADVISERS

All of our advisers are legally trained and experienced in advising on whistleblowing concerns. The advice given by each adviser is overseen by qualified lawyers, who are always on hand to assist in urgent or complex matters. For more information about our individual staff members see our people page.

When advising you, we may ask you to consider and help you to answer the following questions:

YOUR CONCERN

What have you witnessed?

What is the risk involved?

Why do you want to blow the whistle now?

Who do you want to tell?

YOUR OPTIONS

Is there a colleague, supervisor or senior manager you can approach with your concerns?

Can you find a solution within the team?

Are there others who are willing to speak up with you?

Does your organisation have a whistleblowing policy?

Have you sought advice from any other source? (a union, an advisory body or solicitor)

POSSIBLE OUTCOMES

How can the risk be addressed?

What would be a satisfactory outcome?

What can you do if you feel you have exhausted all of the internal options?

PRACTICAL TIPS FOR RAISING A CONCERN

LET THE FACTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES

Concentrate on the facts of a situation and focus on what you know for sure. Relying on hearsay and rumour may upset or anger your colleagues and/or employer and may damage personal reputations and work relationships. Remember there may be an innocent or good explanation for what has occurred.

SEPARATE OUT PERSONAL GRIEVANCES

A public concern and a personal grievance are not the same thing. If you are aggrieved about your personal position, you should use your employer’s internal grievance procedure to make this known. If you are unsure which category your concern falls into, we can help you to distinguish the two.

BE A WITNESS NOT A COMPLAINANT

Communicate the concern in a professional, calm and factual manner. If you know how to resolve the problem, suggest a solution. As a witness you do not have to prove your concern and it is important you do not delay raising the concern by acting as a private detective.

RECOMMENDING OTHER ADVICE SERVICES

If our advisers cannot assist with your concern because it does not fall within our remit at PCaW, we will try to recommend another advice service or organisation that might be able to help you. See a full list of other useful contacts here.